From John BennettSent Wednesday, March 18, 2026 9:51 AM
Good morning. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt gaggled on the north driveway this morning on a cold day in Washington, D.C. Your pooler joined in progress, so please check the below against video and/or transcript for the full exchange. FYI: No changes, as of now, to the president's schedule. More TK. Leavitt: “120 naval vessels are at the bottom of the sea because of our United States Armed Forces. That…
From Lauren FedorSent Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 9:32 AM ET
Good morning from JBA, where Vice President JD Vance will soon depart for Michigan. The VP is expected to deliver remarks later today at a manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, a northern suburb of Detroit. He will be joined by the Second Lady and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin on the trip. FPPO: We expect to be wheels up at 9:40, wheels down 11:10 Oakland County International Airport. Remarks are expected to begin…
DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026 In-Town Pool TV Corr & Crew: ABC Secondary TV Corr: NewsNation Photos: AP, AFP, NYT, Reuters, Getty Print: Roll Call Secondary Print: The Hill Radio: NPR New Media: Semafor Out-of-Town Travel Pool TV Corr & Crew: ABC Photos: AP, AFP, NYT, Reuters, Getty Print: HuffPost Additional Print: AP, Washington Times Radio: BBC EDT: 9:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time…
From David AlandeteSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 6:30 PM
The Taoiseach spoke in the East Room for about 10 minutes before presenting the traditional bowl of shamrock to the president, in a ceremony that stressed the symbolism of the U.S.-Ireland relationship. In his remarks, Micheál Martin framed the moment as both historic and forward-looking, describing the ceremony as “a symbol of friendship… older than our countries,” and stressing the shared foundations of “liberty,…
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 6:27 PM
A travel/photo lid was called at 6:26 p.m. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate! Todd Gillman Washington Bureau director Cronkite News [EMAIL ADDRESS] m: XXX-XXX-XXXX
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 6:14 PM
President Trump spoke for about 18 minutes. Noted that "I spent the whole day with the Irish" which, he said, was better than spending it with Iranians. Again refers to Iran operations as an "excursion." Talks up the East Wing renovation, DHS nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin ("brutal human being," he joked), the SAVE America Act etc. Teased the USTR about needing to do more to address the $40 billion trade deficit with…
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 5:45 PM
The president and the Irish prime minister, Micheál Martin, and Mrs. Martin entered the East Room at 5:44 pm for the St. Patrick's Day reception. The room is packed with people here to witness the presentation of a bowl of shamrocks by the taoiseach. Glasses of a dark beverage, presumably Guinness stout, are visible in the hands of many guests, as are flutes of what is more likely champagne. The event is being strea…
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 5:14 PM
Pool and precredentialed media have entered the East Room. The room is packed. Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach, will present a bowl of shamrocks to President Trump as the Irish prime minister's St. Patrick's Day visit comes to a close. Todd Gillman Washington Bureau director Cronkite News [EMAIL ADDRESS] m: XXX-XXX-XXXX
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026 2:46 PM
POTUS entered the Oval Office at 2:42 pm after an uneventful motorcade from the Capitol. Todd Gillman Washington Bureau director Cronkite News [EMAIL ADDRESS] m: XXX-XXX-XXXX
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026 2:37 PM
President Trump and Speaker Johnson strode through Statuary Hall, led by a bagpiper, at 2:30. They did not stop for shouted questions. POTUS waved at the pool. Pool followed toward the Speaker's offices. The bagpiper was standing at the doorway as we headed downstairs and out. Motorcade rolled down Independence moments later headed back to the White House. Todd Gillman Washington Bureau director Cronkite News [EMAIL…
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 2:06 PM
In the Rayburn Room near the House floor. Speaker Mike Johnson jokes about his own family's Italian roots but notes that his wife is Irish. Four round tables of 10. The menu is short rib or cod. US and Irish flags flank the portrait of George Washington. Johnson notes lots of Irish politicians in US history. Name checks Kennedy, Reagan and Tip O'Neill, the latter two started this tradition. Introduces POTUS at about…
As Democrats keep the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, deprive 100,000+ Americans of their paychecks, and continue to inflict pain on travelers, America’s aviation leaders are sounding the alarm. In a letter to Congress, chief executives of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air and others warned that the ongoing shutdown is putting increasing s…
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:58 PM
The White House pool will be in the lunch for remarks in the Rayburn Room. Holding in Statuary Hall after uneventful motorcade from the White House. POTUS was dropped at House-side carriage entrance. Todd Gillman Washington Bureau director Cronkite News [EMAIL ADDRESS] m: XXX-XXX-XXXX
From Diyar KurdaSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:47 PM
Motorcade pulled away from the White House, heading en route to the Capitol. Your foreign pooler will not be present, as this movement is covered by the In-Town Pool. Best Diyar Kurda
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:44 PM
Motorcade pulled away from White House at 12:42 en route the Capitol. Circling back to POTUS comment in Oval meeting re trip to China, pulled the quote: "We're resetting the meeting. It looks like it will take place in about five weeks. We're working with China. They were fine with it. ... I look forward to seeing President Xi. He looks forward to seeing me, I think." Todd Gillman Washington Bureau director Cronkite…
From Todd GillmanSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:38 PM
Pool ushered out of Oval Office at 12:28 and is now loading for motorcade to Capitol. Oval with Irish PM VP Vance and Rubio are on sofa to Trump’s left. Trump asks Rubio to weigh in on Cuba. Irish PM finally gets a question and air time. No criticism of US attack on Iran. Says Ireland wants peace. "Ultimately all conflicts come to an end and we have to work toward that." Q why should the UK be supportive on Iran...…
From Diyar KurdaSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:28 PM
VP JD Vance said, in substance, that there have been many militia attacks against U.S. positions in the region, that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tried to limit the number of people at the embassy so essential functions can continue while protecting personnel, and that the episode shows there are many terrorists in that part of the world who need to be eliminated when found. The clearest extract is: “Yeah, wel…
From Diyar KurdaSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:26 PM
During the exchange, the Taoiseach sought to lower the tone and defend the transatlantic relationship, stressing its strategic value and the need for continued engagement. He said “the transatlantic relationship between Europe and the US is very, very important,” adding that despite tensions “we can get a landing zone again.” Martin also emphasized that European countries share the concern about Iran, noting that “y…
From Diyar KurdaSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:18 PM
Martin’s main line was that, despite the tensions around Iran and NATO, the transatlantic relationship remains essential and should be repaired, not broken. He also tried to bridge Trump’s position and the European one: he agreed Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, described Iran as a sponsor of terrorism, and then shifted to Ireland’s traditional argument that the goal must still be peace. Key declar…
From Diyar KurdaSent Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:13 PM
More foreign policy quotes President Trump said the U.S. operation against Iran was aimed at stopping Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and argued that Iran’s military capacity has been largely destroyed. He sharply criticized NATO allies for backing the action in principle but not offering more help, praised several Arab partners and Israel for their support, contrasted that with the scale of U.S. support for…